Child&#39;s table



Nv.1o,19z5. 1,561,438

R. WINSHIP l CHILDS TABLE Filed Aug. 5. 1922 Patented Nov. l0, 1925..

UNITED STATES ROSS XVINSHIP, OF VALPARAISO, INDIANA.

i CHILDS TABLE.

Application filed August 5, 1922.

`To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Ross VVINSHIP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valparaiso, in the county of Porter and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Childrens Tables, of which the 'following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in childs t'able and it more especially cons sists of the features hereinafter pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a childs table t-hat is simple in construction, quite rigid and yet easily adjustable for use so that the table top can be tilted through an angle of approximately 90 degrees or 45 degrees on each side of its central horizontal position; that provides clamping means for detachably holding the table top so that if desired it can be turned over to thereby make both sides of the table top available for use that provides means for adjusting the table top to different heights; that further provides spring pressed clamping means to hold the table top in position between a pair of clamps; and that makes use of independently movable clamps which are automatically aligned by the table top, thus eliminating complicated and expensive constructive `features which would be required if the clamps were in rigid relation to each other.

With these and other objects in view, I illustrate in the accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will discloseY the broad underlying features without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an assembled childs table.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one end of the table support showing means for securing vertical adjustment for the table top.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detached elevation of the clamping portion of the table top, in modiied form.

Fig. 7 is a view similiar to 6 showing a spring pressed clamp.

Fig. 8 is a'detached cross-section of a modified vertical adjustment. v

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a wire formed clamp.

Serial N0. 579,898.

In practically carrying out my invention, I may use any desired shape of supports 1 which take the place of ordinary table legs. These at the bottom end may have feet 19 formed thereon as shown in Fig. 2. They are held together by a tie-piece or foot rest 2 which may be secured to the supports 1 by screws or by means of any detachable eXpedients, such -as a mortise and tenon 26 cooperating with a holding pin, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to make it easy to pack the table in small space for shipment.

The upper ends of the supports 1 are provided with a distance rod'v4. This rod is threaded at both ends where it passes through the supports. The upper ends of the supports are rounded at 18 so that in whatever angular position the table top may be placed its weight will still rest on the support. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2. 0n the inside ofeach support at the upper' end, clamping plates are placed. These plates comprise a depending portion 6 through which a hole is pierced for the distance rod 4. The part 6 is joined to a lengthened horizontal portion 5 and this in turn is joined to a short vertical portion 7 which terminates in a short horizontal tlange 8. The flange 8 enters slot 10 formed in the side edges of the table top '3 as specially shown in Fig. 6. The table top 8 is removable from the clamps. It may be turned over so as to bring the underface uppermost and the faces of the table top may be finished in the same manner, or one or both may be y:finished so as to make the top available for use with chalk, crayons, etc.

The rod 4, as stated, passes through the depending portion 6 of the clamps and it also passes through an opening formed in the supports 1 at the center of the rounded end 18. One or more lock nuts 12 on the inside of the clamping plates serve to dene the lateral position of such plates on the rod 4 holding them lightly in position against the supports 1 /while the part 5 of such plates rests on the rounded ends 18 of the supports 1, thus relievingthefplates fromV any strain that might be placed upon them by the Weight of the tabletop. Clamping `wing-nuts 13 are threaded on `tothe ends of the rod 4 outside of the supports 1. By loosening these nutsthe clamps with their attached table top maybe shifted on Cil Y in engagement kwith tiange S of theother the rod l as an axis by means of the table spring 17 may be made as still as is found top 3 and when the desired positionis found the thumb nuts are clamped to hold the parts against 'further movements. It the table top is to be turned over, one of the clamps must be removed from its groove l when the top may be pulled endwise to Jfree it from the other clamp, turned over and replaced. In order that the clamps will not injure the table top. telt cushions 9 may be secured to the clamps where they would otherwise directly engage the top.

Instead or' the clamps being rigidly aligned in respect ot eac-h other, I mount them so as to be entirely tree and have movement independent of each other and place entire dependence on the table top 3 with its slots to align the clamps and secure their simultaneous movement as the 'table top is tilted. It is understood that I do not limit mysel't` to any specific type ot clamp befause any practical alternative will tall within the spirit or' my invention. '.lhe reason tor this self aligning feature being practical will be seen by inspecting F 3 wherein is shown that the dimension ll representing one-halt ot the length ot theclamp is positioned on each side of the center line of the table which coincides with 'the center ot' the rod et.

In ease it is desired to use a` spring clamp the expedient illustrated in Fig. T may be used. rllhis comprises a. pivoted port-ion 2T that terminates in a rounded end la adapted to enter a. correspomiling groove 28 termed in the ec ge ot the table top, which groove may extend the length ot the clamping elev mentor it may entend throughout the entire width of the top in which case the top may be slid out lengthwise of the grooves by `simply loosening the pressure ot one ot the clamping elements 27. 4t may be found that a single spring pressed element El engaging one edge of the table top will be quite suilioient to hold the top in engagement with an Y ordinary form of clamp placed at its other edge. The spring pressed element 2T may be pivoted at l5 to the horizontal portion 5 oit an ordinary clamping` plate thereby bccoming a substitute for the parts 7 and 8 shown in Fig. G. A, linger extension 16 is termed onthe part ot '27 below the pivot point and a spring l? is placedbetween this linger extension and the horizontal portion 9 of the clamp. r his serves to hold the rounded edge lll -in the groove 28, and also serves to hold' groove l0 oit the table top Il clamping plate, or. it a second spring pressed clamp is used its rounded edge 1,4 woiild engage the second groove 28. The groove 28 may be formed in all loli' the edges ot a square table top so that if for any reason it is desired to shift the top so that what was its lower and `upper edge will become its side edges. It is .of course understood that the necessary to properly hold the table top in place.

lVhenever it is desired to make a childs table adjustable vertically, it may be ldone in.aV numberot different ways. One such way is illustrated in Fig. l wherein a guide plate 24e is secured to each of the supports 1 on the inside of the upper end ot' the supports. Sliding` members 2() grooved at QZ-Bare rounded at their upper end similar to the are 18 and a. screw 2l passes'through the part 20 and the depending portion QG of a clamping plate. A clamping nut 22 is placed on the screw 2l so as to tirmlj.Y hold the clamping plates and table top in any desired angular position within the chirtitim'i` limits .of my device. The members 2O are provided` with lengthwise slotsy through which the rod l passes. The desired vertical position of the table top is maintained by using the clamping nuts 13 'found on each end of the rod 4:. The members 2O are held against edgewise movement by flanges ot the guide plates Qil entering grooves formed in the edges of members 20. It is ot course obvious that any one ot numerous well known expedient-s may be used instead of the grooves 23 and guides 241 without departing from the broad spirit. An instance ot another term is shown in Fig. S wherein the adjustable sliding members 2S) cach haring two flanges 3l formed thereon adapten to slide in saw cut grooves ot the supports l. rllhe upper end of the members 29 are rounded similar to the upper ends of supports l or the members 20 to :,ncomplisli the same purpose. rlhese members 29 also hare a slot 87 similar to the slots 25 ot the mein bers 20 to provide tor the passage of the distance rod 1l. It is immaterial whether the distance rod d connects the upper ends ol' the supports l or joins the members 20 or 29. This alternative location et the rod lis shown in Fig. wherein a dotted line estension ot the bolt- 2l suggests its substitution by rod 4:. i

rThere are also other modifications which may be made without departing from the spirit .ot my invention as instan/ced in Figs. G and 9. In the tormer the portion (l ot a. clamping plate is placed outside ol the supports l, and the part 5 l as a lateral ex :ension S2 which rests on the. upper end of the supports 1 performing a similar function to that of part 5 when the portion G is placed on the inside of supports l as shown in Fig. l. or on members 20 as shown in Fin'. All The part 7 of the-clamping plate in Fig. G ten minates in a flange 33 which will lengage the upper face ot the Atable top in a protected manner so as not to injure the saine thus forming a substitute tor the Hangs 2S shown in Figs. l and 4f.

The clamping plates may be substituted by bent-up-spring wire clamps 38 as shown in Fig. 9. These wire clamps have bent in ends 41 adapted to enter holes 40 formed in the edges of the table top. They have horizontal portions 42 which serve the same purpose to support the top as the part 5 of the clamping plates. Each spring clamp 38 has an eye 39 formed about midway between its ends through which either bolts 21 or rod et may pass. These spring clamps may be detached from the table top without specially loosening` the thumb nuts 13 or 22 by simply bending them outward so as to withdraw the ends 41 from the holes 40.

In Fig. 7 a pencil box or drawer holding` expedient 3G is shown wherein a trough like portion 34 with bent up flanges 35 is secured to the part 6 of the clamping plate by riveting or otherwise to hold a pencil box or drawer 36 which may be made slidable in the holder 34 if desired. Each of the clamping plates may be provided with the expedient shown in Fig. 7 so as to have separate receptacles along each edge of the table top. Vhenever the table top is tilted, the drawer or receptacle 36 will remain parallel with it so as to be easily accessible under all adjustments of the table. Even though the title Childs table has been used, I do not limit myself to this specific adaptation.

From the description and drawing it will be seen that a childs table constructed in accordance with my invention will be very sturdy and eiiicient, meeting the various and varying needs of child life, thus forming an instrument which will enable the parents to effectively direct the expanding possibilities of children and conserve their future development.

lhat I claim is:

Il. In a tilting top table, a table top, a pair of standards thereunder, means for supporting the table top on the standards, cooperating means between the lower face of the table top and the upper edge of the standards for limiting the angular position of the parts to each other, means for pivoting the parts to each other, and means for locking them in diiferent positions.

2. In a childs table, a pair of suitable supports, means for holding them in related positions with respect to each other, a distance rod joining said supports near their upper ends, separate and independent clamping plates movable on said rod while in engagement with the upper end of the supports, a table top having grooves in its edges removably held between such clamping plates, and means for detachably holding the table top grooves in engagement with said clamping plates to thereby align the plates to each other and cause the same to move together and with the top when it is adjusted.

3. In a childs table, a suitable support comprising end members detachably secured to each other, a distance rod passing from one support to the other, an arc of a circle forming the termination of the upper ends of the supports whose center is the same as that of the rod, independent and separate clamping plates on said rod while resting on the rounded ends of the supports, and a removable table top attachably and detachably secured to said plates.

Il. In a tilting top table, a removable table top, a pair of standards thereunder, means for pivotally securing the table top to the standards, and means comprising pivoting and holding plates placed between the lower surface of the table top and the standards adapted to limit the angular position of the table top on the standards independently of the pivoting means.

5. In tilting tables, a table top, standards beneath the same, pivoting plates between the table top and the standards, and means for limitingthe angular position of the table top by the cooperating upper edges of the standards.

6. In adjustable tables, a removable and reversible table top, detachable clamping means therefor, suitable supports in pivoted relation to the clamping means, a drawer supporting extension from said clamping means, and means for holding the table top, drawer support, and clamping means in different angular positions while such parts retain their same relation to each other throughout the adjustment of the table top.

7. In table supports, a reversible table top having grooves in its edges a pair of supporting members constituting a substitute for two pairs of table legs, separate clamping meanspi'voted near the upper ends of said supports, means foiuholding said supports spaced apart in definite relation to each other, means for detachably holding said clamping means in said grooves, and means for variably positioning the clamping means on the supports to thereby tilt the table as desired.

8. In tilting top tables, a table top, standards thereunder, pivotal means on the standards, means for pivotally clamping the table top to the standards, and cooperating means between the table top and the edges of the standards for limiting the extreme angular service positions of the top independently of the pivotal means.

In testimony whereof I aiiX my signature.

ROSS IVINSHIP. 

